Rotating Table Device

Abstract

To provide such a structure that can prevent immersion of cutting oil into a motor cover via a discharge hole in a rotary table device which includes a main shaft attached with a circular table, a drive motor that drives the main shaft and the motor cover that is attached to a frame so as to cover the drive motor and is configured to be usable in both installation states of a vertically-placed state and a horizontally-placed state.SOLUTION: A rotary table device includes a first discharge hole for the vertically-placed state and a second discharge hole for the horizontally-placed state as the discharge holes for discharging cutting oil in a motor cover. Each discharge hole is formed on a frame and includes: an inflow part which communicates with a lower portion of a space in the motor cover; a discharge part which is opened to a surface that is a bottom surface of the frame in the installation state thereof and is located on the side of the surface that is the bottom surface of the frame in the installation state of the other with respect to the inflow part; and a communication part which communicates with the inflow part and the discharge part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotary table device that includes a main shaft rotatably supported on a frame and a circular table attached to the end of the main shaft, and that calculates the angular position of the circular table. The rotary table device also includes a drive motor that is attached to the frame and drives the main shaft, and a motor cover that is attached to the frame in a manner that covers the drive motor. The rotary table device is configured to be usable in both a vertically placed state in which the axis of the main shaft is parallel to the horizontal direction, and a horizontally placed state in which the axis is parallel to the vertical direction. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of such a rotary table device is disclosed in Patent Document 1. This rotary table device includes a frame installed on a mounting surface of a machine tool, a spindle rotatably supported within the frame via bearings, and a circular table attached to the end of the spindle. The rotary table device disclosed in Patent Document 1 is a so-called vertically-mounted rotary table device, which is installed vertically with the axis of the spindle parallel to the horizontal.

[0003] The rotary table device also includes a drive motor as a drive source for driving the spindle. The drive motor is attached to a surface (motor mounting surface) that is perpendicular to both the bottom surface of the frame when the device is placed upright and the surface of the frame that is parallel to the spindle. The drive motor is connected to the spindle by a worm gear mechanism that includes a worm wheel attached to the spindle and a worm shaft that meshes with the worm wheel.

[0004] The rotary table device is configured so that the angular position of the circular table is determined by the rotation of the spindle by the drive motor. The rotary table device is equipped with a motor cover that surrounds the drive motor to prevent the drive motor from being exposed to coolant used during workpiece machining. The motor cover is mounted on the rotary table device so as to be attached to the motor mounting surface on which the drive motor is mounted as described above.

[0005] As mentioned above, the rotary table device of Patent Document 1 is a vertically-placed rotary table device. However, among conventionally known rotary table devices, there are some that are configured so that a single rotary table device can be installed not only in the vertical position as described above, but also in a horizontal position where the axis of the main shaft is parallel to the vertical direction (so that it can also be used as a so-called horizontally-placed rotary table device). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0006] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2008-119793 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0007] While such a rotary table device equipped with a motor cover prevents coolant from directly contacting the drive motor, coolant may seep into the motor cover and accumulate inside. Specifically, a typical motor cover is constructed by combining multiple components, and coolant may seep in through gaps between the assembled components. Furthermore, a seal is provided between the motor cover and the frame (motor mounting surface), and deterioration of this seal can also allow coolant to seep in. If coolant seeps into the motor cover and accumulates inside, it could cause problems such as malfunctions of the drive motor and other electrical components.

[0008] To prevent this problem from occurring, a conventional configuration has been adopted in which a drain hole is provided in the surface that becomes the bottom of the motor cover when the rotary table device is installed so that the coolant that has seeped into the motor cover can be discharged to the outside. However, with such a configuration, in a rotary table device that can be used in both the vertical and horizontal positions as described above, the problem of coolant seeping in through the drain hole occurs.

[0009] Specifically, when the above-described exhaust hole is provided, in a rotary table device configured to be usable in both of the above states, the exhaust hole is formed on two surfaces: the surface that becomes the bottom of the motor cover in the vertical installation state and the surface that becomes the bottom of the motor cover in the horizontal installation state. In a rotary table device configured in this manner, when the device is installed in one of the above states, the surface that becomes the bottom of the motor cover in the other installation state becomes the side surface of the motor cover. In other words, the rotary table device is configured so that the above-described exhaust hole is also open on the surface of the motor cover that becomes the side surface in each installation state.

[0010] When machining a workpiece, a large amount of coolant is directly sprayed onto the side surfaces of the motor cover (excluding the bottom surface of the motor cover) of the motor cover in the rotary table device. As a result of the coolant being sprayed onto the side surfaces of the motor cover where the drain holes are opened as described above, a large amount of coolant can enter the interior of the motor cover through the drain holes formed to discharge the coolant, causing a problem.

[0011] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a configuration for a rotary table device that can be used in both vertical and horizontal positions, which can prevent coolant from entering the motor cover through the drain hole. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The present invention is based on a rotary table device that includes a main shaft rotatably supported on a frame and a circular table attached to the end of the main shaft, and that calculates the angular position of the circular table, and that includes a drive motor attached to the frame and driving the main shaft, and a motor cover attached to the frame so as to cover the drive motor, and that is configured to be usable in both a vertically placed state in which the axis of the main shaft is parallel to the horizontal direction, and a horizontally placed state in which the axis is parallel to the vertical direction.The rotary table device that is the premise of the present invention has the following features.

[0013] The rotary table device has a first surface that is the bottom surface of the frame when placed vertically, and a second surface that is the bottom surface of the frame when placed horizontally, and is provided with drain holes formed in the frame for draining cutting oil from inside the motor cover, the first drain hole being a drain hole for the vertical placement state, and a second drain hole being a drain hole for the horizontal placement state. The first drain hole is composed of a first inlet portion that communicates with the space inside the motor cover and is formed so that the communication position is at a lower position of the space when placed vertically, a first drain portion that opens to the first surface and is formed closer to the second surface than the first inlet portion, and a first communication portion that communicates between the first inlet portion and the first drain portion. The second discharge hole is composed of a second inlet portion that communicates with the space and is formed so that the communication position is at the bottom of the space when the vehicle is placed horizontally, a second discharge portion that opens to the second surface and is formed closer to the first surface than the second inlet portion, and a second communication portion that communicates between the second inlet portion and the second discharge portion. Note that the "bottom of the space" here refers to the portion (area) of the space inside the motor cover that is below the area where the drive motor and other electrical equipment are located. [Effects of the Invention]

[0014] In the turntable device according to the present invention, the discharge holes (first discharge hole, second discharge hole) for each of the installation states, i.e., the vertical installation state and the horizontal installation state, are configured to include an inlet portion that communicates with the lower part of the space in each installation state, and a discharge portion (first discharge portion, second discharge portion) that opens into the surface that becomes the bottom surface of the frame in each installation state. Furthermore, each discharge hole is formed so that the discharge portion is located on the side of the surface that becomes the bottom surface in the other installation state (the other installation state in which it does not function as a discharge hole) relative to the inlet portion, and the inlet portion and discharge portion are communicated by a communication portion. In other words, each discharge hole is configured so that the inlet portion and the discharge portion are spaced apart from each other in a direction parallel to the bottom surface in that installation state, with the discharge portion being on the side of the surface that becomes the bottom surface in the other installation state.

[0015] According to this configuration, when each drain hole is in the other installation state, i.e., when it does not function as a drain hole, a drain portion formed at a different position from the inlet portion communicating with the space in a direction parallel to the side surface (vertical direction) opens on the side surface, and the drain portion is located lower than the inlet portion. As a result, even if coolant liquid splashed on the side surface of the frame seeps into the drain hole (discharge portion) opening on the side surface during workpiece machining, the coolant liquid will not directly reach the inlet portion located above the drain portion. Therefore, the coolant liquid is prevented from seeping into the motor cover connected to the inlet portion as much as possible. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] 1 is a schematic view showing an overall state of a rotary table device in an embodiment of the present invention, in which the rotary table device is placed vertically. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional front view taken along line AA in FIG. [Figure 3] 1 is a schematic view of an entire rotary table device in a horizontally placed state according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] 2 is a cross-sectional front view showing the main part of FIG. 1 along line BB. [Figure 5] 5 is a cross-sectional plan view taken along the line CC in FIG. 4. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view taken along line DD in FIG. 5. [Figure 7] 10 is a perspective view showing a discharge hole for a vertically placed state and a discharge hole for a horizontally placed state; FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a partially cross-sectional plan view showing the main part in FIG. 3. [Figure 9] 10A and 10B are cross-sectional side views showing discharge holes for a vertically placed state and a horizontally placed state in a rotary table device according to another embodiment of the present invention. BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0017] An embodiment (example) of a rotary table device to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to FIGS.

[0018] 1 is a diagram showing a schematic view of the exterior of a rotary table device 1. The rotary table device 1 comprises, as its components, a frame 10 that is placed on a mounting surface (not shown) of a machine tool, and a circular table 2 on which a workpiece is placed. The circular table 2 is provided so that the surface on which the workpiece is placed is exposed to the frame 10.

[0019] 2, the rotary table device 1 is provided with a main shaft 3 to which the circular table 2 is attached at one end. The main shaft 3 is rotatably supported via a bearing (not shown) in a housing hole 11 formed in a frame 10.

[0020] Furthermore, the rotary table device 1 is equipped with a drive motor 4 as a drive source for rotating the spindle 3. The drive motor 4 is attached to a motor mounting surface 12 of the frame 10 via a bracket. The motor mounting surface 12 is set as one of four surfaces of the frame 10 that are parallel to the axis of the spindle 3. On the frame 10, the motor mounting surface 12 is a rectangular surface.

[0021] The drive motor 4 is mounted on the motor mounting surface 12 with its output shaft 4a facing the motor mounting surface 12. Therefore, the frame 10 is formed with an insertion hole 14 that opens onto the motor mounting surface 12 to allow for the arrangement of the output shaft 4a of the drive motor 4.

[0022] The rotary table device 1 is provided with a motor cover 20 that is provided to cover the drive motor 4. The motor cover 20 is a housing that is configured so that one side is open to form an opening. The vertical dimension of the opening of the motor cover 20 is slightly smaller than the dimension of the long side of the motor mounting surface 12, and the horizontal dimension of the opening is slightly smaller than the dimension of the short side of the motor mounting surface 12.

[0023] The motor cover 20 is attached to the motor mounting surface 12 with the opening facing the motor mounting surface 12 and with the vertical direction of the opening aligned with the long side of the motor mounting surface 12 (the horizontal direction of the opening aligned with the short side of the motor mounting surface 12). However, this attachment state is such that the motor cover 20 is located within the range of the motor mounting surface 12 when viewed in a direction perpendicular to the motor mounting surface 12. As described above, in this attachment state, the vertical direction of the opening and the long side of the motor mounting surface 12 are the same direction, and the horizontal direction of the opening and the short side of the motor mounting surface 12 are the same direction. Therefore, in the following description, the former direction will both be referred to as the "vertical direction" and the latter direction will both be referred to as the "horizontal direction."

[0024] The rotary table device 1 also includes a drive transmission mechanism 30 for transmitting the rotation of the output shaft 4a of the drive motor 4 to the main shaft 3. The drive transmission mechanism 30 includes a worm gear mechanism 31 made up of a worm wheel 32 attached to the main shaft 3 so as to be rotatable relative to the main shaft 3, and a worm shaft 33 having a worm 33a meshing with the worm wheel 32. Since the worm wheel 32 is attached to the main shaft 3, it is disposed within a housing hole 11 in a frame 10 on which the main shaft 3 is provided.

[0025] The frame 10 is also formed with a through hole 13 for accommodating the worm shaft 33. The through hole 13 passes through the frame 10 in a direction perpendicular to the motor mounting surface 12 and is formed to communicate with the accommodation hole 11 in which the worm wheel 32 is disposed. The through hole 13 is further formed at its end on the motor mounting surface 12 side to communicate with the insertion hole 14. The worm shaft 33 is rotatably supported within the through hole 13 via a bearing, and meshes with the worm wheel 32 at the worm 33a.

[0026] The drive transmission mechanism 30 also includes a gear train 34 consisting of a drive gear attached to the output shaft 4a of the drive motor 4 and a driven gear that meshes with the drive gear and is attached to the end of the worm shaft 33. In the rotary table device 1, the drive of the drive motor 4 is controlled in accordance with a preset numerical control program, whereby the main spindle 3 is rotated via the gear train 34 and the worm gear mechanism 31, and the main spindle 3 (circular table 2) is indexed to the angular position set in the numerical control program.

[0027] Furthermore, the rotary table device 1 is configured so that it can be used in both vertical and horizontal installation states on the installation surface of the machine tool. The vertical installation state refers to the state in which the rotary table device 1 is installed so that the axis of the spindle 3 is parallel to the horizontal direction, as shown in Fig. 1. The horizontal installation state refers to the state in which the rotary table device 1 is installed so that the axis of the spindle 3 is parallel to the vertical direction, as shown in Fig. 3.

[0028] To realize both installation states of the rotary table device 1, the frame 10 is configured so that it has a surface that serves as the bottom when the rotary table device 1 is installed on the installation surface in each installation state. Specifically, the frame 10 is configured so that a surface that is parallel to the axis of the spindle 3 and perpendicular to the motor mounting surface 12 can serve as the bottom surface (first surface) of the frame 10 in the vertical installation state. The frame 10 is also configured so that a surface that is perpendicular to the axis of the spindle 3 and opposite to the surface on which the circular table 2 is exposed can serve as the bottom surface (second surface) of the frame 10 in the horizontal installation state. In this way, the rotary table device 1 is configured so that it can be used in both the vertical installation state and the horizontal installation state by the first surface 15 and the second surface 16 formed on the frame 10 as described above.

[0029] The rotary table device 1 configured as described above includes a drain hole for draining cutting oil from inside the motor cover 20. In addition, in the present invention, the rotary table device 1 includes a first drain hole for use in the vertical installation state and a second drain hole for use in the horizontal installation state, both of which are formed in the frame 10. Each drain hole includes an inlet port that communicates with the lower portion of the space in the motor cover 20 in each installation state, a drain port that opens to the bottom surface and is located closer to the bottom surface in the other installation state than the inlet port, and a communication port that connects the inlet port and the drain port. The configuration of each drain hole in the rotary table device 1 will be described in detail below with reference to FIGS. 4 to 8.

[0030] First, the first discharge hole 40 is formed by drilling the following first to third holes in the frame 10. Regarding the holes, the first hole 41 opens to the motor mounting surface 12 and is drilled in the frame 10 in a manner parallel to the first surface 15 and the second surface 16. The first hole 41 is formed at a position closer to the second surface 16 than the middle of the frame 10 in the horizontal direction and closer to the first surface 15 in the vertical direction. However, the position at which the first hole 41 opens to the motor mounting surface 12 is in communication with the lower part of the space within the motor cover 20 when the motor cover 20 is placed vertically. The first hole 41 is formed so that the end opposite to the end (open end) of the motor mounting surface 12 is located within the frame 10 (the end is a closed end).

[0031] The second hole 42 opens to the second surface 16 and is drilled in the frame 10 in a manner that is parallel to the first surface 15 and the motor mounting surface 12. Like the first hole 41, the second hole 42 is formed so that the end opposite the open end is a closed end, and the closed end is formed so that it communicates with the closed end of the first hole 41. Therefore, the position of the second hole 42 is the same as that of the first hole 41 in the vertical direction, and is at the position of the closed end of the first hole 41 in the direction perpendicular to the motor mounting surface 12 (the width direction of the frame 10).

[0032] The third hole 43 is opened to the first surface 15 and is drilled in the frame 10 in a manner that is parallel to the second surface 16 and the motor mounting surface 12. The third hole 43 is formed at the same position as the second hole 42 in the width direction and is formed to communicate with the second hole 42. The position of the third hole 43 communicating with the second hole 42 in the lateral direction (the drilling direction of the second hole 42) is closer to the second surface 16 than the first hole 41.

[0033] The second exhaust holes 50 are formed by drilling the following fourth to sixth holes in the frame 10. Like the first hole 41, the fourth hole 51 has one end that opens to the motor mounting surface 12 and is drilled in the frame 10 parallel to the first surface 15 and the second surface 16. The other end of the fourth hole 51 is also closed (the end is closed). However, the position of the fourth hole 51 is such that it communicates with the lower portion of the space within the motor cover 20 when the motor cover 20 is placed horizontally, and is closer to the second surface 16 than the third hole 43 in the horizontal direction. The position of the fourth hole 51 is also such that it is closer to the first surface 15 than the first hole 41 (second hole 42) in the vertical direction.

[0034] The fifth hole 52 has one end that opens to the first surface 15 and is drilled in the frame 10 in a manner that is parallel to the second surface 16 and the motor mounting surface 12. The other end of the fifth hole 52 is also closed, and the closed end is formed to communicate with the closed end of the fourth hole 51. The position of the fifth hole 52 is the same as that of the second hole 42 in the width direction. Therefore, the fifth hole 52 and the second hole 42 are formed in an intersecting state.

[0035] The sixth hole 53 is opened to the second surface 16 and is drilled in the frame 10 in a manner that is parallel to the first surface 15 and the motor mounting surface 12. The sixth hole 53 is formed at the same position as the fifth hole 52 in the width direction and is formed to communicate with the fifth hole 52. The position of the sixth hole 53 communicating with the fifth hole 52 in the vertical direction (the drilling direction of the fifth hole 52) is between the fourth hole 51 and the second hole 42.

[0036] In the first discharge hole 40 and the second discharge hole 50 formed by the combination of holes as described above, a first closing member 44, which is a plug member for closing the open end of the second hole 42, is provided in the first discharge hole 40 by being inserted into the second hole 42. However, the position at which the first closing member 44 is provided is between the third hole 43 and the fifth hole 52 in the horizontal direction (the drilling direction of the second hole 42). Similarly, a second closing member 54, which closes the open end of the fifth hole 52, is provided in the second discharge hole 50 by being inserted into the fifth hole 52. The position of the second closing member 54 is between the sixth hole 53 and the second hole 42 in the vertical direction (the drilling direction of the fifth hole 52).

[0037] According to the rotary table device 1 configured as described above, the coolant liquid that has entered the motor cover 20 is discharged through the first discharge hole 40 when the device is installed vertically, and is discharged through the second discharge hole 50 when the device is installed horizontally.

[0038] Specifically, when the rotary table device 1 is installed vertically, if coolant that splashes onto the motor cover 20 during machining of a workpiece seeps into the motor cover 20, the seeping coolant gradually accumulates in the space within the motor cover 20 from the bottom side of the motor cover 20 when the motor cover 20 is installed vertically. The first hole 41 of the first drain hole 40 is formed to communicate with the lower part of the space within the motor cover 20 when the motor cover 20 is installed vertically. Therefore, the coolant gradually accumulating in the space reaches the position of the first hole 41 before the liquid level reaches the area where the drive motor 4 and other electrical components are located. When the liquid level reaches the position of the first hole 41, the coolant flows from within the motor cover 20 toward the first hole 41.

[0039] Next, the coolant liquid that has flowed into the first hole 41 passes through the second hole 42 and flows toward the third hole 43. When the coolant liquid reaches the position of the third hole 43, it flows into the third hole 43 and is discharged from the open end of the third hole 43 to the outside of the frame 10.

[0040] From the above, in the first discharge hole 40, the first hole 41 corresponds to the first inflow portion referred to in the present invention, and the third hole 43 corresponds to the first discharge portion. Furthermore, of the second hole 42 formed to communicate the first inflow portion 41 with the first discharge portion 43, the portion 42a on the first inflow portion 41 side relative to the first blocking member 44 corresponds to the first communication portion.

[0041] Furthermore, when the motor cover 20 is installed horizontally, as in the vertical installation, if coolant seeps into the motor cover 20, the seeping coolant gradually accumulates in the space within the motor cover 20 from the bottom side of the motor cover 20 when the motor cover 20 is installed horizontally. The fourth hole 51 of the second drain hole 50 is formed to communicate with the lower part of the space within the motor cover 20 when the motor cover 20 is installed horizontally. When the liquid level of the coolant reaches the position of the fourth hole 51, the coolant flows from inside the motor cover 20 toward the fourth hole 51. The coolant that has flowed into the fourth hole 51 then flows toward the sixth hole 53 via the fifth hole 52 and is discharged from the open end of the sixth hole 53 to the outside of the frame 10.

[0042] From the above, in the second discharge hole 50, the fourth hole 51 corresponds to the second inflow portion and the sixth hole 53 corresponds to the second discharge portion as referred to in the present invention. Furthermore, of the fifth hole 52 formed to communicate the second inflow portion 51 and the second discharge portion 53, the portion 52a on the second inflow portion 51 side of the second blocking member 54 corresponds to the second communication portion.

[0043] In the turntable device 1 having the first drain hole 40 and the second drain hole 50 thus formed, for example, in the vertically placed state, the first drain hole 40 functions as a drain hole for draining the coolant, as described above, while the second drain hole 50 does not function as a drain hole. Furthermore, the second drain hole 50 is formed so that the second drain portion 53 opens on the second surface 16 (the surface that becomes the bottom surface of the frame 10 in the horizontally placed state). Since the second surface 16 becomes the side surface of the frame 10 in the vertically placed state, the turntable device 1 is in a state in which the second drain hole 50 (second drain portion 53) opens on the surface that becomes the side surface of the frame 10 in the vertically placed state. Therefore, during machining of a workpiece, the coolant on the frame 10 seeps into the second drain hole 50 through the second drain portion 53.

[0044] However, the second drain hole 50 is formed such that the second discharge portion 53 is located closer to the first surface 15 than the second inlet portion 51 in the vertical direction. Therefore, in the vertically placed state, the second drain hole 50 is in a state in which the second inlet portion 51 is located higher than the second discharge portion 53. As a result, even if coolant seeps in from the second discharge portion 53 as described above, the coolant will not directly reach the second inlet portion 51, which is located higher than the second discharge portion 53. As a result, the coolant is prevented as much as possible from seeping into the motor cover 20 from the second drain hole 50, which is not functioning as a discharge hole.

[0045] Similarly, in the horizontally placed state, the first drain hole 40, which does not function as a drain hole, opens at its first drain portion 43 to the first surface 15, which is the side surface of the frame 10 in the horizontally placed state. However, since the first drain hole 40 is formed such that the first drain portion 43 is located closer to the second surface 16 than the first inlet portion 41 in the horizontal direction, in the horizontally placed state, the first inlet portion 41 is located higher than the first drain portion 43. Therefore, even if coolant seeps in from the first drain portion 43 during machining of the workpiece, the coolant does not directly reach the first inlet portion 41, as with the second drain hole 50 in the vertically placed state. Therefore, the coolant is prevented from seeping into the motor cover 20 from the first drain hole 40, which does not function as a drain hole, as much as possible.

[0046] As described above, in the rotary table device 1, in both the vertical and horizontal installation states, one of the first drain hole 40 and the second drain hole 50 functions as a hole for draining coolant that has infiltrated and accumulated inside the motor cover 20 during workpiece machining. As a result, in either of the installation states, coolant that has infiltrated into the motor cover 20 is drained from inside the motor cover 20 to the outside of the frame 10 via one of the drain holes before it accumulates to an extent that causes problems such as malfunction of the drive motor 4, etc. Furthermore, according to the rotary table device 1, while having drain holes corresponding to both installation states, the other of the first drain hole 40 and the second drain hole 50, which does not function as a drain hole in either installation state, is configured as described above, thereby minimizing the intrusion of coolant into the motor cover 20 through the other drain hole.

[0047] The above describes one embodiment of a rotary table device to which the present invention is applied (hereinafter referred to as "the embodiment"). However, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment, and can be implemented in other embodiments (variations) such as those described below.

[0048] (1) Regarding each discharge hole, in the above embodiment, the first discharge hole 40 is formed so that the first inlet portion 41 is located closer to the second surface 16 than the middle portion of the frame 10 in the horizontal direction, and the first discharge portion 43 is located closer to the second surface 16 than the first inlet portion 41. However, in the present invention, the first inlet portion and the first discharge portion of the first discharge hole are not limited to being formed at the positions as in the above embodiment in the horizontal direction, and may be formed at any position in the horizontal direction as long as the positional relationship in which the first discharge portion is located closer to the second surface 16 than the first inlet portion is satisfied.

[0049] The same applies to the second discharge hole. More specifically, in the above embodiment, the second discharge hole 50 is formed so that the second inlet portion 51 is located on the opposite side of the first surface 15 from the first inlet portion 41 (first communication portion 42a) in the vertical direction, and the second discharge portion 53 is located closer to the first surface 15 than the second inlet portion 51. However, the second discharge hole may be formed at any position in the vertical direction, as long as the positional relationship in which the second discharge portion is located closer to the first surface 15 than the second inlet portion is satisfied.

[0050] (2) Regarding the communication portions of each discharge hole, in the above embodiment, both discharge holes are formed so that the first communication portion 42a of the first discharge hole 40 and the second communication portion 52a of the second discharge hole 50 are located at the same position in the width direction. Therefore, in this configuration, the second hole 42 constituting the first communication portion 42a and the fifth hole 52 constituting the second communication portion 52a are formed in an intersecting manner. However, in the present invention, both discharge holes are not limited to being formed so that the positions of the communication portions are the same in the width direction, and each discharge hole may be formed so that the positions of the communication portions in the width direction are different from each other. In that case, the second hole and the fifth hole are formed in a non-intersecting manner.

[0051] (3) Regarding the blocking member for each discharge hole, in the above embodiment, the first discharge hole 40 is provided with a first blocking member 44 for blocking the open end of the second hole 42, and the second discharge hole 50 is provided with a second blocking member 54 for blocking the open end of the fifth hole 52. That is, each discharge hole in the above embodiment is configured so that the hole for forming the communication portion opens on the surface that will become the bottom surface of the frame 10 in the other installed state, and the opening is blocked with a blocking member. However, in the present invention, if each discharge hole is formed in this manner, the blocking member can be omitted. That is, the present invention is not limited to a configuration in which a blocking member is provided for each discharge hole.

[0052] In addition, when the hole for forming the communication portion is formed so as to open on the surface that will become the bottom surface of the frame 10 in the other installed state as described above, the drain hole is configured so that the drain portion exists between the opening and the inlet portion that communicates with the motor cover 20. As a result, even if coolant seeps in through the opening, the seeping coolant will reach the drain portion before reaching the inlet portion and be discharged from the drain portion to the outside of the frame 10. Therefore, since it is unlikely that the coolant seeping in through the opening will reach the inlet portion and seep into the motor cover 20, even if a blocking member is omitted, the coolant is prevented from seeping into the motor cover 20 as much as possible.

[0053] (4) Regarding the discharge portion of each discharge hole, in the above embodiment, each discharge hole is formed so that the discharge portion in each discharge hole is provided individually (dedicated) for each discharge hole. However, in the present invention, each discharge hole is not limited to being formed so as to have its own dedicated discharge portion, and the discharge portion may be formed so as to be shared with the discharge portion of the other discharge hole.

[0054] Specifically, the configuration shown in Fig. 9 can be considered as an example. In the configuration of Fig. 9, the first hole 61 and the fourth hole 71 constituting the inlet portion of each discharge hole (first discharge hole 60, second discharge hole 70), and the second hole 62 and the fifth hole 72 constituting the communication portion are formed to be the same as the corresponding holes in the above-mentioned embodiment. However, in this example, the blocking members provided in the second hole 62 and the fifth hole 72 are provided on the opening side of the portion where the second hole 62 and the fifth hole 72 intersect (intersection portion). Therefore, in this example, the communication portion of each discharge hole is configured to include the intersection portion.

[0055] Additionally, a seventh hole 80 is formed in the frame, extending from the corner (corner portion) of the frame where the first surface 15 and the second surface 16 intersect toward the intersection. This seventh hole 80 serves as a discharge portion common to both discharge holes. That is, this seventh hole 80 serves as the first discharge portion 80 of the first discharge hole 60 and the second discharge portion 80 of the second discharge hole 70. Note that, because the discharge portion 80 is formed from the corner portion as described above, it opens to both the first surface 15 and the second surface 16.

[0056] (5) Regarding the communication portion of each discharge hole, in the above embodiment, the second hole constituting the first communication portion of the first discharge hole is formed so as to open to the second surface 16 and communicate at its closed end with the closed end of the first hole (first inlet portion) 41. However, the second hole for forming the first communication portion in the present invention is not limited to being formed in this manner, and may be formed so as to open to the surface opposite to the second surface 16 (the exposed surface of the circular table).

[0057] The positional relationship of the first discharge portion relative to the first inlet portion must be as described above. Therefore, when the second hole is formed to open to the exposed surface of the circular table, the second hole extends beyond the position of the first inlet portion to the position of the first discharge portion, and is formed so that its closed end communicates with the closed end of the first discharge portion. The first inlet portion communicates with the second hole at a position closer to the exposed surface of the circular table (the opening end side of the second hole) than the first discharge portion (the closed end of the second hole) in the horizontal direction. Furthermore, in the first discharge hole formed as such, a blocking member is provided within the second hole, closer to the opening end of the second hole than the first inlet portion. In this case, the portion of the second hole closer to the first discharge portion than the blocking member serves as the first communicating portion.

[0058] Similarly, with regard to the second communication portion of the second discharge hole, the fifth hole constituting the second communication portion is formed to open on the first surface 15 in the above embodiment, but may be formed to open on the surface opposite to the first surface 15. In that case, the fifth hole is formed so that its closed end communicates with the closed end of the second discharge portion. Furthermore, the second inlet portion communicates with the fifth hole on the opposite side of the second discharge portion (the closed end of the fifth hole) from the first surface 15 in the vertical direction. Furthermore, in the second discharge hole in which the fifth hole is formed in this way, a blocking member is provided on the opening end side of the fifth hole closer to the second inlet portion of the fifth hole. In that case, the portion of the fifth hole closer to the second discharge portion than the blocking member becomes the second communication portion.

[0059] (6) In the examples described above, the communication portions of each discharge hole are configured as part of a hole formed to open into the surface that will become the bottom surface of the frame 10 in the other installation state. However, in the present invention, the communication portions of each discharge hole are not limited to being configured as part of a hole formed to open into the surface of the frame in this way. Specifically, during the frame manufacturing process (by casting, etc.), the frame is formed so that a hole-like space with both ends closed is present at the position of the communication portion of each discharge hole in the above-mentioned embodiment. Then, a hole that serves as an inlet is formed from the motor mounting surface toward that space, and a hole that serves as a discharge portion is formed from the surface that will become the bottom surface of the frame in one installation state, so that the space becomes the communication portion.

[0060] (7) In the above-described embodiment of the rotary table device to which the present invention is applied, the rotary table device 1 is configured such that, when placed vertically, the drive motor 4 is located to the side of the spindle 3. However, the rotary table device to which the present invention is applied is not limited to such a configuration, and may be, for example, a rotary table device such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-025170, which is configured so that the drive motor is located above the spindle when placed vertically, but which is configured so that it can also be placed horizontally.

[0061] In the example described above, the rotary table device is configured so that the output shaft of the drive motor is oriented parallel to the horizontal. However, the rotary table device to which the present invention is applied is not limited to such a configuration. For example, a rotary table device such as that disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-110682, which is configured so that the output shaft of the drive motor is oriented parallel to the vertical direction when placed upright, can also be installed in a horizontal position.

[0062] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0063] 1 Rotating table device 2. Round table 3 main axis 4 Drive motor 4a Output shaft 10 frames 11 Receiving hole 12 Motor mounting surface 13 Through hole 14 Insertion hole 15 First Side 16 Second Side 20 Motor cover 30 Drive transmission mechanism 31 Worm gear mechanism 32 worm wheel 33 Worm shaft 33a Warm 34 Gear train 40 First discharge hole 41 First hole (first inlet) 42 Second Hole 42a First communication portion 43 Third hole (first discharge part) 44 first blocking member 50 Secondary discharge hole 51 Fourth hole (second inlet) 52 Fifth Hole 52a Second communication portion 53 Sixth hole (second discharge part) 54 Second blocking member 60 First discharge hole 61 First hole (first inlet) 62 Second Hole 70 Secondary Discharge Hole 71 Fourth hole (second inlet) 72 5th hole 80 Seventh hole (first discharge portion, second discharge portion)

Claims

[Claim 1] A rotary table device includes a main shaft rotatably supported by a frame and a circular table attached to an end of the main shaft, and indexes the angular position of the circular table. The rotary table device also includes a drive motor attached to the frame and driving the main shaft, and a motor cover attached to the frame so as to cover the drive motor. The rotary table device is configured to be usable in both a vertically placed state in which the axis of the main shaft is parallel to the horizontal direction, and a horizontally placed state in which the axis is parallel to the vertical direction. a surface that becomes the bottom surface of the frame in the vertically placed state is defined as a first surface, and a surface that becomes the bottom surface of the frame in the horizontally placed state is defined as a second surface; drain holes formed in the frame for discharging cutting oil from within the motor cover, the drain holes including a first drain hole for the vertical installation state and a second drain hole for the horizontal installation state; the first discharge hole is composed of a first inlet portion that communicates with a space within the motor cover and is formed so that the communication position is a lower position of the space in the vertically placed state, a first discharge portion that opens to the first surface and is formed closer to the second surface than the first inlet portion, and a first communication portion that communicates between the first inlet portion and the first discharge portion, The second discharge hole is composed of a second inlet portion that communicates with the space and is formed so that the communication position is a lower position of the space in the horizontally placed state, a second discharge portion that opens to the second surface and is formed closer to the first surface than the second inlet portion, and a second communication portion that communicates between the second inlet portion and the second discharge portion. A rotary table device characterized by:

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